EP1300095A1 - Depilatory appliance comprising pain-killing means - Google Patents

Abstract

The depilating implement has a housing (20) in sections (21,27) enclosing an electric motor (17) driving a roller (1) with grippers. The grippers are driven for cyclic opening and closing to pull hairs from the skin. The housing has a cap (21) defining an opening. The cap is directly connected to the roller to be driven for vibration.

Description

The present invention relates to a hair removal device comprising means pain reliever, hair removal device of the type comprising a rotary roller fitted with forceps designed to pluck unwanted, unwanted hair from the human body.

This type of device has clamps in the form of blades or discs arranged on a rotating roller, the clamps being caused to close and open periodically so as to tighten the hairs close to the skin and, respectively, to evacuate the hairs pulled out by the rotation of the roller. Hair removal is a very effective method against regrowth, but often it causes significant pain.

The state of the art attests to the use of several methods using to various pain relief devices associated with hair removal devices. So, we knows, in particular from document WO 95/07638 in the name of the applicant, a skin cooling device, just before depilation, using evaporation of a liquid deposited on the skin. However, this device uses means, such as a liquid reservoir, a fan, which increase the size and cost of the device.

Other pain relief devices for hair removal are known from documents DE 44 08 809 and WO 98/55000 which describe means of stimulation of the skin, by sending electrical impulses, respectively electric shocks on the area to be epilated. These devices prove to be limited efficiency, while being complex and high cost.

The effectiveness of pain relief devices used in combination with devices hair removal has been greatly improved by the use of mechanical stimulation vibration of the skin simultaneously with depilation.

Thus, documents EP 0 671 136 and WO 99/13750 in the name of the Applicant describe pins and brushes fixedly mounted on the roller rotary carrying the clamps. Brushes and pins are supported by a zone elongated recessed extending parallel to the alignment of the roll clamps rotary. Brushes have a bristle straightening effect before waxing, while the pins produce a massage effect on the skin, more or less less accentuated causing a sensation of pain which masks the pain of waxing. However, the brushes and especially the pins penetrating on a certain thickness in the skin can cause irritation on the latter.

WO 97/00032 has also been proposed with a tweezer rotary comprising a series of movable rollers pushed radially by the centrifugal force and / or by springs, castors which apply pulses mechanical on the skin to camouflage the pain caused by lifting hairs. This solution is however complicated, it also requires execution details and high costs for its components.

Other epilators with vibratory stimulation devices for the skin have been proposed in documents EP 0 493 849, where a vibrating grid covers the epilation means, or EP 0 760 219 where the casing of the apparatus comprises a vibrating frame or additional vibrating rollers, the frame or the rollers being arranged next to the gripper roller. However, these vibrating means mask the area to be epilated while using additional mechanisms for their training.

Note in particular in document EP 0 760 219 that the vibrating frame perpendicular to the skin has, in addition, a finger which follows a groove practiced in the epilation head to describe an additional movement in a longitudinal direction relative to the skin. However, this system cannot be implemented with an oscillating head drive mechanism hair removal which performs oscillations of very low amplitude, because such a finger put on a gripper roller would be torn off when rotating the roller. Now, this oscillating movement mechanism is known to be ineffective for hair removal by pulling out the hairs.

Document WO 97/19613 describes an epilator comprising a comb or a hand with flexible pins, vibrating mounted on the housing, outside the roller pliers. However, this solution requires a vibrating mechanism even more elaborate, therefore complex.

Document FR 2 745 992 in the name of the applicant describes an epilator whose the hair removal roller is surrounded by a vibrating stirrup mounted on the housing. same if the vibration training means are a little simplified by compared to previous achievements, the fact remains that the pieces in vibration also mask the area to be epilated, which is annoying for the wearer.

It is the same in the case of document EP 0 861 615 where the epilating appliance is provided with means for stretching the skin, these means being present under the form of two articulated arms arranged on either side of the depilatory head and actuated in pivoting or translation, independently of the tweezers, so as to tighten the skin during tearing and to release it immediately after picking. Aside from the fact that the hair removal area is masked by said arms articulated, tension applied to the skin can cause pain and / or irritation, especially in the bony areas of the user's body.

In document FR - 0008272 in the name of the plaintiff, the means pain relievers are in the form of a pad arranged next to the depilatory head, a pad which performs a massage action in the plane of the skin by being driven in a alternative translational movement relative to the latter. Operating at satisfaction, we still noticed that this skate increases the size of the device, which is inconvenient for a small device intended to be held at the hand.

The object of the invention is to remedy, at least in part, the drawbacks mentioned above and to propose a tweezer with rotary tweezers comprising pain-relieving means intended to act mechanically on the area to depilate when pulling out the hairs so as to effectively relieve pain felt during hair removal, a device that is compact, while being reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is a depilatory device with pain-relieving means which act during uprooting, while leaving visible the area to be epilated.

An additional object of the invention is a hair removal device comprising pain relief means having a simplified structure and which can be manufactured in large series at reduced cost.

These goals are achieved with a hair removal device comprising a housing in several parts, containing an electric motor for driving a roller rotary gripper and actuation means in a cyclic movement of closing / opening of at least one pair of pliers intended to tear off the skin hairs, said housing comprising at least one upper cover enveloping the roller and defining a depilation window, since said cover is directly linked to the rotating roller, its support or part of the means for actuating the clamps so as to be driven in vibration, and that it is disconnected from the rest of the case.

By upper cover enveloping the roller and defining a depilation window we understand a piece in the form of a skirt forming the upper part of the housing, located in the extension of the lower grip part of the housing, upper part which directly surrounds the roller, possibly with its support, on all its sides, while leaving an opening in the part higher. This opening determines a hair removal window through which the hairs from the epilating area can penetrate inside the tweezers in order to picking.

According to the invention, said cover is directly linked to the rotary roller, to its support or part of the gripper actuating means so as to be driven in vibration. By directly linked we understand that the hood is actuated by a movable element of the epilation head, that is to say of the rotary roller, its support or means for actuating the clamps, a movable element which already oscillating during operation of the device. We thus directly uses the movement of the parts constituting the epilation head, without the interposition of an additional element or means which transforms the movement printed on the epilation head in an oscillating movement. Subsequently, the hood is directly driven by this movable element of the epilation head in an oscillating movement, back and forth, and not in a continuous movement of rotation at the same time as the rotating roller. Thus, the hood can be, for example, driven in translation by being mounted on slides and pushed directly by the lateral flanges of the roller, or by the movable cams in translation, or by pushers carrying the clamps, pushers which are mobile in translation or in pivoting while being in contact with the rotary cams of the gripper actuation mechanism.

According to the invention also, the cover can be directly fixed to the support of the rotary roller, the two being completely integral so that the cover follows the movement of the part on which it is permanently fixed, without it there is relative movement between the two. The cover can be fixed by gluing, screwing, by fixing with a clip, by overmolding, or by any other method of mechanical fixing. Thus, the movement of the moving parts of the depilatory head is fully transmitted to the hood which, following the movement which is given to it printed, in turn moves relative to the skin.

Such a solution allows the housing, in particular the hood to vibrate or to move by being integral with the parts already set in motion during the operation of the device. So, vibrations in this part of the case can be obtained by simply taking advantage of the roller drive rotary, and therefore, we can stimulate the skin without using additional vibration systems. During tests and experiments carried out in specialized laboratories, it has been found to surprising that the simple vibration of the epilating head or the pincer roller Significantly reduces the intensity of the pain felt during lifting.

So this vibration of the head printed on the hood allows the latter to transmit the vibratory stress to the skin by means of its entire surface contact with the latter, which further improves the pain-relieving effect of vibrations produced by the epilating head.

Said cover is detached from the rest of the case, in particular from the part intended to the manual gripping of the latter in order to prevent the transmission of vibrations at the user's hand. By disconnected it is understood that the cover is separated by a distance called clearance from the lower part of the housing. Vibrations perceived in the grip area of the device hamper the grip of the device, adversely affecting the efficiency and accuracy of the operation. It is therefore important to properly isolate the gripping part from at the source of the vibrations. According to the invention, the isolation of the source generating vibrations is done by dissociating the upper and lower parts of the case, including the cover of the gripping area of the housing. This insulation could be obtained by providing a clearance between these two parts, the cover being directly mounted on a moving part, while the grip of the housing is mounted, as is generally the case with the state of the art, by means of shock-absorbing pads which prevent the transmission of vibrations to the latter.

Thus, by separating the housing of the device in at least one movable part, integral of a moving or vibrating part, this part being the epilation head same or its support or the actuating means of the clamps, and a second fixed part, isolated from the first, we get a system simple and effective painkiller, while being compact. of the damping means are no longer necessary between the epilation head and its corresponding part of the housing or the hood, which makes it possible to obtain a more compact and more economical construction.

In the spirit of the invention, advantage is taken of at least one of the parts constituting case to make it mobile and transform it into a vibrating pad, which allows to save any additional parts and any additional accessories. Yes certainly, this implies a small difficulty during the design of the device, it is largely offset by the savings made during production in mass of the devices of the invention.

Advantageously, said cover is driven in a translational movement alternative in terms of the skin.

This displacement in the plane of the skin notably produces an action of rubbing massage performed in an area adjacent to the hair removal area. In tests on various people, it was found that the fact of massage vigorously by rubbing an area sensitized by pain the effect of immediately relieving pain. It has also been found that massaging an area of skin when pulling out the hairs, this action has an effect anesthetic, and the pain from hair removal becomes more bearable by the after. This massage also has a positive effect on skin irritations and post-depilatory itching.

Preferably, said cover comprises two separate shoulders arranged on one side on the other side of the epilation window in the direction of the axis of rotation of the roller rotary.

The two shoulders of said cover extend on either side of the window and are intended to come into contact with the skin in the area hair removal. By their surface of contact with the skin these shoulders delimit laterally the width of the hair removal area by massaging the lateral sides of the latter during hair removal, while leaving the area visible of skin to be depilated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two shoulders of said hood are driven in synchronous movement.

In this case, the two shoulders perform parallel movements in the same direction, like wipers, which gives the advantage of having stimulation parallel to the skin.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the two shoulders of said hood are driven in displacement in phase opposition.

The cover therefore has two shoulders which describe movements in opposite direction, alternately approaching and deviating during the functioning, which gives the advantage of having stimulations parallel to the skin and tighten the skin when the shoulders are separated.

Advantageously, said cover is mounted on one of the branches of the cradle supporting the rotating roller.

The cradle supporting the rotary gripper roller receives cyclically in its branches the reaction forces of the rollers coming into contact with the cams. These forces create vibrations which are fully transmitted to the hood which is directly attached to the branches of the cradle.

Usefully, said cover is mounted on one of the lateral flanges of the rotary roller.

Thus, the movement is printed on the flanges which delimit the packet of pliers to be depilated and to which an alternative translational movement is printed during the operation of the device. This movement is then transmitted to the hood which moves on the skin. In this case, a movement of greater amplitude important can be obtained. We can certainly consider a different mounting of the cover on a pivoting lever actuated by the flanges, or by any other system amplification of the movement.

Preferably, the contact surface with the skin of said cover is substantially flat or convex.

Such a surface ensures optimum contact with the areas of skin to be depilated. human body, which makes massage more effective.

Usefully, the surface of contact with the skin of said cover has protuberances.

These protrusions massage the deeper layers of the skin at the same time as the surface massage is carried out, the skin penetrating between the hood bottom surface and that of the protrusions.

Advantageously, the amplitude of the movement described by said cover is understood between 0.05 and 3mm.

It has been found in tests carried out that such a range of motion provides an effective massage able to calm the pain of tearing, without as much irritate the skin.

Preferably, said cover is driven in an oscillatory movement of translation at a frequency equal to or greater than 30 Hz.

Theoretical and applied medical studies have indeed established that the effect analgesic is a function of the frequency of vibrational stimulation, and that effective soothing effect is obtained for the aforementioned values of the frequency of movement on the skin of said cover.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said cover and the roller are rotatably mounted relative to the bottom of the housing.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to obtain a very ergonomic device which allows, for a constant position of the hand, to follow the contour of the skin.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective éclatée des pièces principales composant l'appareil de l'invention;
• la figure 2a est une vue latérale de l'appareil de l'invention et les figures 2b et 2c représentent des vues en coupe selon le plan médian A-A selon la figure 2a;
• la figure 3a est une vue latérale de l'appareil de l'invention et les figures 3b et 3c représentent des vues en coupe selon le plan B-B partiellement médian puis latéralement décalé selon la figure 3a.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description and of the drawings which follow, illustrating, by way of nonlimiting examples, an embodiment of the invention. Thus, reference is made to Figures 1 to 3, where:

• Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the main parts making up the apparatus of the invention;
• Figure 2a is a side view of the apparatus of the invention and Figures 2b and 2c show sectional views along the median plane AA according to Figure 2a;
• Figure 3a is a side view of the apparatus of the invention and Figures 3b and 3c show sectional views along the plane BB partially median then laterally offset according to Figure 3a.

Many elements of the hair removal device described below with means painkillers according to the invention are found in the document FR 2 758 060 in the name of the plaintiff, this device being however only one example of use, not limiting, because any hair removal device, in particular rotary roller with pliers, can be adapted for use with such means.

In Figure 1 we can observe a hair removal device comprising a hair removal head consisting of a rotary roller 1 comprising a central shaft of axis 2 (fig. 2b) rotatably mounted in a cradle 12 and a cage formed by two flanges 3,4 holding between them the rods for driving the clamps supported by the roller 1, this cage being coaxial with the axis 2. The roller 1 comprises several pairs of pliers, each consisting of two blades side by side. The clamps are actuated by a cam mechanism receiving motor drive electric 17, via a gear train 16, all these components being arranged in the housing 20 of the hair removal device.

The actuation mechanism of the tweezers is of the type described in the document FR 2 758 060. Thus, a first series of depilatory blades is integral a cage mounted coaxially on the roller shaft, the cage being formed by two side flanges 3,4 holding between them four rods for driving blades. The other series of blades is integral with a central walkman mounted free in rotation around the shaft of axis 2 of the rotating roller 1. On each outer face flanges 3,4 is provided with a device of overlapping crossed cams, but offset by a quarter of a turn with respect to each other. Cams 5 come in each contact with a pair of rollers 6 mounted with their axis 7 in a roller holder 8. Two roller holders 8 are provided, each being fixed to one of the side branches 14 of the cradle 12.

In operation, when one of the pairs of rollers acts on a cam, the rollers push the player with a series of blades in one direction, while the opposite pair of rollers acts on a cam opposite to push the cage with the second set of blades in the opposite direction, this situation being overturned after a quarter turn thus creating a double reciprocal movement alternative of the axis 2 sliding shaft with respect to the cage. So a movable blade is likely to deviate from an adjacent blade and, alternatively, apply against it. The moving blade actuation in translation causes the closure, respectively the opening of the tweezers, which squeezes the hairs and pulls them out, and then releases them, as the rotation of the roller 1. Thus, the hairs of the area to be plucked appearing in front window (fig. 2b, 2c) of the housing 20, are torn off following the rotation of the roller 1 the epilation head.

The components of the hair removal device of the invention are arranged inside a case 20. This case consists of an upper case 21 forming a cover for the rotary roller 1, and a lower casing 27 (fig. 1, 2a, 3a).

The lower housing 27 maintains, by means of shock absorbers 19, the chassis 18 supporting the epilation head, the gear train 16 and the motor 17. The shock absorbers 19 are relatively hard rubber pads, low travel, having the role of damping the vibrations in the grip part of the casing 27. The lower casing 27 can be made in a single part or in several parts 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d linked together, as is the case in the example illustrated in figure 1.

The upper housing or cover 21 forms an envelope for the rotary roller 1, a cutting being provided in its upper part to constitute the window hair removal 26.

More particularly according to the invention, the cover 21 is designed to be directly attached to the support of the rotating roller 1, in particular to the branches side 14 of the cradle 12. As best seen in Figures 2b and 3b or, the enlarged scale in FIGS. 2c and 3c, the cover 21 includes means for fixing to the cradle 12 constituted by the flanges 24 (visible in fig. 3b, 3c) and the pins 25 (visible in fig. 2b, 2c) which cooperate with the corresponding parts roller holder 8.

The roller holder 8 is supported by a branch 14 of the cradle 12 while being directly attached to the latter. The roller holder 8 can for example be molded in a plastic material on the metal branch of the cradle, or it can be fixed by gluing, by rivets, etc. on the latter. The roller holder 8 is a piece of generally planar shape, with a surface comparable to that of branch 14, this which allows it to be securely attached to the cradle branch 14. The roller carriers 8 are provided with bearings 9 supporting the rotary roller 1 in rotation.

On the sides of the roller carrier 8, on either side of its axis of symmetry, are two fixing ears 10 (fig. 3c) are provided, while a fixing clip 11 (fig. 2b, 2c) is provided in the center of its lower part. In Figure 3c we notice that the flanges 24 of the cover 21 bear on the ears 10 of the roller holder 8 and FIG. 2c that the clip 11 is applied to the lug 25 of the cover 21. The cover 21 therefore has three attachment points on each branch of the cradle, which allows to be well united with the latter and to follow its movement. other means of fixing the cover to the cradle can be envisaged, in particular the bonding, screwing, riveting, or any other fixing means which ensures perfectly integral connection between the two components, without creating noise additional.

The cradle 12 has the role of a spring for maintaining the tension of the roller assembly, cams, cage and player of the epilation head. This spring is therefore subject to solicitations which give it an oscillating back and forth movement, its two opposite branches 14 tending to follow the movement of the rollers on the cam rails. In the example described, a pair of rollers is on a ascending ramp, while the pair of rollers located on the opposite branch of the cradle is at the same time on a descending ramp, which means that the two branches 14 of the cradle 12 perform parallel movements, in the same direction, like a deformable parallelogram. We could consider, in a variant, a different mechanism from the epilation head where the cams are mounted so that the two opposite rollers find at the same time on a rising ramp, or at the same time on a descending ramp, of the two opposite cams, and in this case the branches of the cradle would tend to approach and move away successively one by compared to each other.

The cover 21 being directly fixed on the branches 14 of the cradle 12, follows the same movement as the latter. The cover 21 is therefore advantageously made in two separate parts 22, 23 mounted with play, one in the extension of the other. The cover 21 therefore consists of two parts: one right cover 22 and left cover 23, which allows them to perform a movement in translation, without further stressing the cradle 12.

The upper cover or housing 21 is mounted in the extension of the housing lower 27, a clearance 30 (fig. 2a, 3a) being provided between the two. The game 30 allows the cover 21 to be detached from the lower housing 27, which ensures the relative displacement of the first, 21, driven by the branches 14 of the cradle 12, compared to the second, 27, which is fixed. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, an elastic seal can be inserted between the cover 21 and the housing lower 27, joint which has the role of preventing the transmission of movement between the two parts of the case.

Advantageously, in the example presented, the rotary roller 1 is mounted pivoting about a pivot axis 15 of the chassis 18. In this case, the lower surfaces 22b, 23b (fig. 1) of the right cover 22, respectively cover left 23, have a rounded shape, the clearance 30 allowing them to move in pivoting with respect to the equally rounded surfaces of the opposite part of the lower case 27.

When the epilating device of the invention is put into operation, the person using it activates the cursor 29, which allows the power supply of the electric motor 17 and the turning on of the rotary roller 1. The apparatus is then positioned on an area of skin to be depilated, and moved to the latter, the cover 21 being brought into contact with the skin. The hairs entering through the epilation window 26 between the epilating blades are torn off by the rotation of the roller 1 and at the same time, the shoulders 22a, 23a (fig. 1, 2c, 3c) of the cover 21 move in an oscillating movement in translation following the movement of the cradle 12. The movement of the shoulders 22a, 23a allows the device to perform a friction massage in the plane of the skin of areas immediately adjacent to the hair removal area, which has the effect of soothing the pain felt during the uprooting.

The cover 21 is preferably made of a plastic material, for example ABS or POM. The contact surface of the shoulders 22a, 23a with the skin is preferably smooth so as not to injure the skin during the massage. of the protuberances of rounded toe massage or depressions may be provided on the skin contact surface of the shoulders 22a, 23a, which allows training of the skin in addition to friction massage.

In a variant, the contact surfaces with the skin of the shoulders 22a, 23a may have a rougher relief, for example having a role exfoliant.

In the example described, the roller rotates at a speed of 1500 rot / min, the cradle performs four round trips per rotation of the roller, which generates a oscillating movement at a frequency of 100 Hz of the shoulders 22a, 23a. A massage performed at this frequency has a pronounced pain-relieving effect.

Other variant embodiments can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, one could consider mounting the cover 21 on the lateral flanges 3, 4 of the device, or on an intermediate piece allowing a larger movement or at a higher frequency, or on any other moving part of the epilation head.

In the case of another hair removal device, as for example described in the document EP 0 147 285, apparatus comprising means for actuating the tweezers of tweezers in the form of combs supporting the blades axially movable under the effect of contact with cams located on the lateral flanges of said roller, the upper cover of the housing could be directly related to said combs. Thus, the combs could cause the hood during their axial movement of alternative translation, which would have the effect a friction massage in the plane of the skin.

Claims (12)

Hair removal device comprising a housing (20) in several parts (21,27), containing an electric motor (17) for driving a rotary roller (1) with pliers and means for actuation in a cyclic closing movement / opening of at least one pair of pliers intended to pluck the hairs from the skin, said case (20) comprising at least one upper cover (21) enveloping the roller (1) and defining a depilation window (26), characterized in that said cover (21) is directly linked to the rotary roller (1), to its support or to part of the actuating means of the clamps so as to be driven in vibration, and that it is separated from the rest of the housing (27). Hair removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that said cover (21) is driven in an alternative translational movement in the plane of the skin. Epilating device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said cover (21) has two separate shoulders (22,23) arranged on either side of the epilation window (26) in the direction of the axis of rotation (2) of the rotary roller (1). Hair removal device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two shoulders (22,23) of said cover (21) are driven in synchronous movement. Hair removal device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two shoulders (22,23) of said cover (21) are driven in displacement in phase opposition. Hair removal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (21) is mounted on one of the legs (14) of the cradle (12) supporting the rotary roller (1). Hair removal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (21) is mounted on one of the lateral flanges (3,4) of the rotary roller (1). Hair removal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact surface with the skin of said cover (21) is substantially flat or convex. Hair removal device according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact surface with the skin of said cover (21) has protuberances. Hair removal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amplitude of the movement described by said cover (21) is between 0.05 and 3 mm. Hair removal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (21) is driven in an oscillatory translational movement at a frequency equal to or greater than 30 Hz. Hair removal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (21) and the rotary roller (1) are pivotally mounted relative to the lower part (27) of the housing.

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